Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Tuesday, January 30, ordered the creation of a task force to look into the backgrounds of the market vendors who have not paid their rentals to determine if alternative programs can be provided for them.
More than 100 fish and vegetable vendors at the Burgos Public Market in Bacolod had until Wednesday, January 31, to pay their arrears or face eviction.
However as a compromise they were asked to pay at least P5,000 of their arrears by January 31 and the rest by March 31 to be allowed to continue vending at the market, Councilor Celia Flor said.
Many failed to comply with the compromise agreement.
Flor said numerous extensions had already been granted to the vendors since last year.
Those who failed to comply with the compromise by January 31 will no longer be allowed to vend at the market, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said.
Benitez said a task force composed of Department of Social Services and Development personnel should look into why the vendors do not pay and determine what skills can be provided to address the problem.*